A New Polyphase Mixed-Mode Bandpass

Filter Section Using Current-Feedback

Operational Amplifiers
Muhammad Taher Abuelma'atti and Sa'ad Muhammad Al-Shahrani
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
Box 203 Dhahran 31261 Saudi Arabia
Abstract-A new polyphase mixed-mode filter using
commercially available integrated circuits is presented. The
circuit uses two current-feedback operational amplifiers, four
grounded resistors and two grounded capacitors. The proposed
circuit enjoys independent grounded-resistance control of its
parameters. Simulation results using are included.

I. INTRODUCTION
Polyphase filters [1] , also known as complex analog filters
[2], vector filters [3] and sequence discriminators [4], are
widely used for generation of quadrature signals and image
rejection in the analog front-end of radio frequency integrated
wireless transceivers [5]-[8]. They can also be used for
generation and detection of single sideband signals [9]-[11] and
frequency division multiplex-communication systems [4].
Passive polyphase filters, using only resistors and capacitors,
are widely used; see for example [5],[6] and [12]-[14].
However, cascading of identical passive polyphase filters, in
order to obtain higher-order filters, results in loading effects
and substantially complicates the synthesis process [7]. While
it is possible to obtain analytical expressions for second-, third
and probably higher-order filters [15], these expressions are
very complicated and complicate the design of higher-order
passive polyphase filters. Alternatively, additional buffers
must be inserted among stages to overcome these effects [14].
Active polyphase filters have, therefore, emerged using
operational amplifiers[16]-[18],operational transconductance
amplifiers [19]-[22], current mirrors [23], second-generation
current-conveyors [24] and current-feedback operational
amplifiers [25].
While the selection of an appropriate implementation
technique for the active polyphase filters depends on the
specifications imposed by the intended application [26], some
general observations can be made. Operational amplifiers have
finite values for the gain-bandwidth product. This will limit the
signal frequencies [23] and will result in errors in the
polyphase filter transfer function [17] and [27]. Operational
transconductance amplifier based realizations either require a
large number of transconductance elements [19]-[22] or suffer
from the excessive dispersion in the values of the passive
components [18] and/or transistor mismatches [16]. Currentmirror based realizations suffer from the parasitic capacitances
[23] and the current-mirror errors. The performances of
current-conveyor based circuits, in terms of bandwidth,
linearity and dynamic range, are better than the operational
amplifier and the operational transconductance based circuits.
Moreover, errors in the transfer functions of current-conveyor
based circuits, resulting from the conveyor nonidealities, can
be easily compensated than those resulting from amplifier

nonidealities in operational amplifier based circuits [24].

Current-feedback operational amplifiers are no more than a
plus-type second-generation current conveyor plus a voltage
buffer. Therefore, while current-feedback operational amplifier
based realizations are expected to enjoy the same attractive
advantages of the current-conveyor based realizations, they
have the additional advantage of providing a low impedance
output voltage. This makes easy the cascading of similar filter
sections to achieve higher-order filters.
Despite the expected advantages in using current-conveyors
or current-feedback operational amplifiers for designing
polyphase filters, only two realizations are reported [24] and
[25]. The current-conveyor based realization reported in [24] is
a current-mode realization with current-input and currentoutput. It uses three plus-type and one minus-type secondgeneration current conveyors. A minus-type current conveyor
is not commercially available and can be realized using two of
the commercially available plus-type second-generation
current-conveyors. Therefore the practical implementation of
the circuit proposed in [24] requires five plus-type secondgeneration
current-conveyors.
The
current-feedback
operational amplifier based realization reported in [25] is a
voltage-mode realization with voltage-input and voltageoutput. It uses three current-feedback operational amplifiers
and requires four floating capacitors. Obviously, this will limit
its signal frequency operation.
The major intention of this paper is, therefore, to present a
new current-feedback operational amplifier based realization
for a first-order polyphase filter. The proposed circuit is a
mixed-mode with current-input and voltage-output. It uses two
grounded capacitors and four grounded resistors and can be
easily converted into voltage-mode or current mode by adding
two additional second-generation current-conveyors. The
proposed circuit also enjoys a low output impedance node and
a low input impedance node. Thus, it can be easily cascaded to
obtain higher-order filters.
II. PROPOSED CIRCUIT
The proposed circuit is shown in Fig. 1. Assuming ideal
current-feedback
operational
amplifiers
with
i y = 0, i z = i x , v y = v x and v w = v z , routine analysis
yields the following transfer functions

vo1
1
=
i1
G1 + j (C1 Gm1 )

(1)

vo 2
1
=
i2
G2 + j (C 2 Gm 2 )

(2)

z with rx around few tens of ohms, ry and rz of the order of

In deriving equations (1) and (2) it is assumed that the output

voltages are in quadrature that is v o1 = jv o 2 [5] and [18].
With

Gm1 = Gm 2

i1( 2 )

where

few mega ohms, and C y and

the effect of the parasitic components. To study the effect of

the resistance rx , the circuit of Fig. 1 was reanalyzed assuming

v x = v y + i x rx and identical current-feedback operational

(3)

c
1 + j(
)
o

c =

1
1
and o =
.
Rm C
RC

amplifiers. Equation (3) becomes

vo1( 2 )
i1( 2)

R
r CR
1+ x
Rm
=
cn
1 + j(
)

and asymmetrical transfer function around the zero frequency.

Equation (3), therefore, represents the transfer function of a
complex analog bandpass filter that can be used for image
rejection and sequence discrimination [2].
III. NONIDEAL ANALYSIS

= 1 i , | i |<< 1 represents the current-tracking error,

= 1 v , | v |<< 1 represents the input voltage tracking
error and = 1 v , | v |<< 1 represents the output voltage
tracking errors, reanalysis yields the following transfer function

i1( 2 )

c
1 + j

cn =

(4)

Comparison between equations (3) and (4) clearly shows that

the effect of the current-feedback operational nonidealities can
be easily compensated.

R + rx
Rm RC

1+
and

on =

rx CR
Rm
RC

From

equation (5), it appears that a proper selection of the

components so that rx CR / Rm << 1 and rx << R , then

on = n

Current-feedback operational amplifiers are nonideal devices

suffering from current- and voltage-tracking errors. Therefore,
the effect of the amplifier nonidealities on the performance of
the proposed filter must be studied. Assuming that the
amplifiers are identical with nonideal characteristics expressed
by
and
v w = v z , where
i z = i x , v y = v x

where

(5)

on

Equation (3) is the transfer function of a mixed-mode

bandpass filter with a symmetrical transfer centered around c

vo1( 2 )

C z of the order of few pico-

farads. With Rm1 and Rm 2 in parallel with the parasitic

G1 = G2 = 1 / R, C1 = C 2 = C
and resistances and capacitances at terminals y and z , then
= 1 / Rm , equations (1) and (2) can be rewritten proper selection of the values of these resistances can eliminate

as

vo1( 2 )

Current-feedback operational amplifiers also suffer from

parasitic resistances and capacitances at terminals, x , y and

and

cn = c . Thus, the effect of the finite value

of the resistance rx can be eliminated.

IV. SIMULATION RESULTS
To confirm the operability of the proposed circuit of Fig. 1,
the circuit was simulated as an image filter using HSPICE and
its built-in model of the current-feedback operational amplifier
AD844.
The
results
obtained
with
R1 = R2 = 1590, Rm1 = Rm 2 = 159
and

C1 = C 2 = 10nF are shown in Fig. 2. From Fig. 2 it appears

that an image rejection of 20 dB is feasible using the proposed
circuit of Fig. 1.
V. CONCLUSION
In this paper, a new polyphase mixed-mode, with input
current and output voltage, bandpass filter has been presented.
The circuit uses two current-feedback operational amplifiers,
four grounded resistors and two grounded capacitors. Using a
simple voltage-to-current converter at its output, it can be
easily cascaded to obtain higher-order mixed-mode filters.
Furthermore, the proposed filter enjoys low sensitivity to
parasitic, independent grounded-resistance control for its

bandwidth and center frequency and uses off-the-shelf

components.

[14]

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
[15]

The authors acknowledge with the thanks the support of King

Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.
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I1
X

C1

R1

VO2
Z
Y

Rm1

Rm2
Y
Z

VO1

I2
X

C2

R2

Figure1: Proposed Polyphase Mixed-Mode Bandpass Filter

25

Vo(simulation)
20

Vo_image

15

Vo (cal)

Gain (dB)

10
5
0
-5
-10
-15
-20
-25
0

200

400

600

800

1000

Frequency (KHz)

Fig. 2 Theoretical and Simulated Response of the Proposed Polyphase

Mixed-Mode Bandpass Filter

1200